**
The family of Rodiyat Alabede, a 22-year-old student who tragically passed away after donating plasma in Winnipeg, is advocating for a renewed investigation into her death. This call for scrutiny arises from apparent discrepancies between federal and provincial reports, as well as her autopsy findings. While Manitoba’s chief medical examiner has endorsed Health Canada’s conclusion that her death was coincidental to the donation, the family believes critical questions remain unanswered.
A Tragic Loss
Rodiyat Alabede, a dedicated social work student at the University of Winnipeg, died on October 25, 2025, shortly after donating plasma at a Grifols collection centre located on Taylor Avenue. Plasma, the yellowish fluid in blood, is vital for producing various medical treatments. Grifols, a Spanish pharmaceutical firm, is the sole major commercial plasma collector in Canada, operating 17 centres nationwide under an agreement with Canadian Blood Services.
Following Alabede’s death, Health Canada undertook inspections of Grifols’ Winnipeg clinic and uncovered numerous issues, leading to the imposition of new operational conditions on April 1. These measures included restrictions on the number of donors and enhanced staff supervision. However, just days later, Health Canada announced it could find no direct link between Alabede’s death and the plasma donation process, a conclusion echoed by Manitoba’s chief medical examiner.
Calls for Accountability
Kat Lanteigne, a public health advocate representing Alabede’s family, has expressed concerns over conflicting information surrounding the circumstances of the young woman’s death. The family recently reviewed Alabede’s autopsy report, which noted that
